10 best botanical garden holiday lights events in 2022

Photo by Nicola Colombo//Getty Images

Spectacular light shows light up botanical gardens across North America during the holiday season. Instead of spring flowers, visitors will find twinkling holiday lights, often accompanied by a variety of other festivities. and readers voted for their 10 favorites. These are the botanical garden’s 10 best holiday light events.

Photo credit: New Mexico Biopark Society

No. 10: River of Light at ABQ BioPark Botanical Gardens – Albuquerque, New Mexico

The River of Lights, New Mexico’s largest walk-through light show at the ABQ Biopark Botanic Garden, features over 700 hand-welded light displays, animated 3D sculptures, and millions of lights.

Photo courtesy of F. Todd Lasseigne, PhD, Executive Director

No. 9: Theodore, Alabama – A Magical Christmas at Bellingglass Gardens Lights

Bellingrath Gardens, just outside of Mobile, Alabama, celebrates the holidays with magical Christmas lights. Over 3 million lights illuminate scenes arranged throughout 65 acres of historic gardens. Choral performances and holiday decorations inside the Bellinglas home add to the holiday cheer.

Photo credit: Rick McPherson

when. 8: Botanica Illuminations – Wichita, Kansas

Wichita’s Botanica Illumination features a night lit by nearly two million twinkling bulbs, paired with thousands of lights that light the way. Carolers and live music set the scene each night, and Santa is on site to visit young visitors.

Photo courtesy of Christina Deyon

No. 7: Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden – St. Louis, Missouri

Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden has nearly two million lights, along with concessions selling s’mores, hot chocolate, and traditional holiday treats.

Photo courtesy of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

No. 6: Marie Selby Botanical Garden Light Up – Sarasota, Florida

More than two million lights illuminate Sarasota’s Marie Selby Botanical Garden during Lights in Bloom. Walkways become sensory tunnels of light and gardens come to life with illuminated flowers, rainforest butterflies and dragonflies.

Photo courtesy of Norfolk Botanical Gardens

No. 5: Dominion Energy Garden of Lights – Norfolk, Virginia

Visitors can immerse themselves in a magical holiday wonderland as they walk through the garden of lights under the canopy of Norfolk Botanical Gardens. One million dazzling LED lights create a one-of-a-kind experience in Coastal Virginia.

Photo credit: Brookgreen Gardens, Austin Bond Photography

No. 4: Night of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens – Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

On select nights in December, Brookgreen Gardens celebrates the holiday season with more than 2,700 hand-lit candles and countless twinkling lights. Visitors can walk around the displays with a warm cider, cocoa, or wine in hand to the sounds of live holiday music.

Photo courtesy of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Tori Paxson’s photo.

No. 3: Gardens at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens – Boothbay, Maine

Located in Boothbay’s Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Gardens Aglow is one of New England’s largest and brightest light displays, with more than 750,000 light bulbs.

Photo credit: James H Loving Photography

No. 2: Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights – Richmond, Virginia

During the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights, Richmond’s Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will be lit up with over a million LED bulbs. Check out the model trains at the Kelley Education Center each evening.

Photo credit: Longwood Gardens

No. 1: Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens – Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Longwood Gardens celebrates the season’s nostalgic traditions during Christmas. The outdoor garden is a magical place dotted with more than 500,000 lights, from illuminated trees to glowing orbs to dancing fountains. An outdoor fire pit and music add to the holiday spirit. Inside, the celebration continues in an elegantly decorated space featuring thousands of colorful poinsettias, living wreaths, and towering trees inspired by the horticultural grandeur of Longwood.